The temple is a distinct and sensitive area on the side of the head. It is a specific anatomical region where several skull bones converge. This area houses a complex arrangement of tissues, including muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Understanding its location and structures helps clarify why it can be a point of concern.
Locating the Temple on Your Head
The temple is the soft spot on either side of your head, behind your eye and in front of your ear. This region begins near the outer corner of your eyebrow and extends towards the top of your ear. You can often feel a slight depression in the skull when you gently press this area. It lies inferior to the forehead and lateral to the eye socket.
The skin covering the temple is relatively thin, and beneath it, you can feel the temporalis muscle. This muscle plays a role in chewing and jaw movement.
Key Structures of the Temple Region
The temple region is an anatomical junction where four major skull bones meet. These bones include the frontal bone (forehead), parietal bone (top and sides of the skull), temporal bone (side and base of the skull), and sphenoid bone (a complex bone at the skull’s base). This meeting point, sometimes referred to as the pterion, is a landmark due to the convergence of these cranial structures.
The middle meningeal artery runs directly beneath this bony intersection. This artery supplies blood to the dura mater, the tough outer membrane covering the brain. Its path along the inner surface of the skull makes it a key internal feature.
Various nerve pathways traverse the temple area. Branches of the trigeminal nerve, such as the auriculotemporal and zygomaticotemporal nerves, supply sensory information to the skin of the temple and surrounding regions. These nerves transmit sensations like touch, temperature, and pain, contributing to its overall sensory perception.
Why the Temple is a Sensitive Area
The temple is sensitive and vulnerable due to the thinness of the skull bones at this junction. The meeting point of the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones creates a relatively weaker spot compared to other skull parts. This reduced bone thickness provides less protection for the delicate structures beneath.
The middle meningeal artery’s position directly underneath this thin bony plate is a factor in the temple’s vulnerability. A forceful impact to the temple can rupture this artery, leading to bleeding between the skull and the brain’s outer membrane. This type of internal bleeding, known as an epidural hematoma, can rapidly increase pressure on the brain.
The presence of numerous sensory nerves in the temple region contributes to its sensitivity to pain and discomfort. Even minor pressure or injury can result in noticeable pain because these nerve endings are close to the surface. The proximity of the temporal lobe of the brain also means that trauma to this area carries a risk of neurological complications.